Tom Pidcock returns to Nove Město MTB World Cup this week, while van der Poel skips after breaking bone last year

The Mountain Bike World Cup continues next week with the Nove Město round in the Czech Republic. Both Tom Pidcock and Puck Pieterse make their returns there after a short break following the spring road season. Mathieu van der Poel — who raced in Nove Město last year — is not present in the start list (so far!)

Van der Poel, who was recently spotted riding his mountain bike in Spain, crashed twice in the Czech Republic last year, sustaining a small avulsion fracture in his wrist. He went on to ride the MTB World Championships in Crans-Montana in September, where he finished 29th. That World Championships remains a goal for him, but nothing has been revealed about his route to get there.

"We need to see which races I do before heading to the Tour de France. It's likely that some mountain bike races will be part of that," he said recently in an interview with Spanish outlet AS.

The official KNWU press release makes no mention of Van der Poel. What is certain is that Pieterse will be in Nove Město. She has already been announced as a starter by Fenix-Premier Tech, as has Pidcock. Logically, neither was present at the opening World Cup round in South Korea two weeks ago.

"Nove Město is one of the most iconic and enjoyable courses on the entire calendar," Pieterse said at her announcement. Pidcock, who has also made the MTB World Championships in Val di Sole a key target, has won in Nove Město four times.

Dutch national coach Gerben de Knegt is also looking forward to the races in the Czech Republic, as he said in a Dutch KNWU press release. "The course winds through pine forest across a mix of rock gardens and natural elements, with the technical sections positioned in a way that allows spectators to move easily from one spot to another."

"Because it is a compact and fast circuit, it is genuinely enjoyable for the crowd to follow. Screens are dotted throughout the forest showing the race live, and the start and finish in the biathlon stadium give the event something extra. Mountain biking is really alive in the Czech Republic, and with all the spectators who turn out for the race, the atmosphere is guaranteed," De Knegt said.